With President Barack Obama scheduled to issue an executive action on immigration in the coming weeks, the White House reaffirmed its position on providing legal representation to undocumented immigrant children.

"We need every element of the court process to work effectively to accomplish the goal of both honoring humanitarian claims and processing those who do not qualify for relief," the White House said in a report about legal counsel access for unaccompanied immigrant children.

The Obama administration noted that without the necessary funds to provide legal representation for immigration courts, the efforts to prioritize cases would be "less efficient and effective."

Obama has previously requested that Congress provide emergency funding for the immigration courts. The $45 million request would pay for approximately 40 additional immigration judges, while $15 million would provide "direct" legal representation services for the minors during court proceedings, and $2.5 million would go to expanding the legal orientation program assisting adults and guardians of the minors in the system.

Congress, however, did not approve the funding request. The Obama administration said, "Congress's failure to pass the supplemental continues to undercut the Administration's ability to effectively and efficiently address the recent influx of Central American migrants."

Despite the inaction by Congress, the administration resorted to using existing resources to improve the immigration court system for the unaccompanied, undocumented minors. The White House acknowledged Vice President Biden called law firms with large legal departments and non-profit organizations to partner to increase legal counsel access for the minors. Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder have also made "calls to action" to increase legal services.

The White House also recognized the Department of Health and Human Services awarded $9 million to grantees providing legal services for unaccompanied minors and to expand their efforts to help nearly 2,600 more children. The Department of Justice has also been recruiting legal counsels to work pro bono in six major U.S. cities.

States have also taken the initiative to help provide legal representation for undocumented children. California and New York were highlighted by the Obama administration. In California, the state's assembly allocated $3 million to fund non-profit organizations to help provide legal counsel, expedite the naturalization process and provide interpreters for the children.

As Latin Post reported, California Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said, "With these bills we're making it clear California wants unaccompanied immigrant children treated as children. We want their well-being ensured, their best interests pursued, and their safety protected,"

In New York, $1.9 million was secured through public and private funding. The funding would also be used to teach immigrants English and offer naturalization process assistance and free legal advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Obama said an executive action on immigration could be made between Election Day and the end of this year if Congress does not pass comprehensive legislation reform.

Related